The best dumplings in Melbourne’s CBD

Housed in a laneway that wouldn’t seem out of place in any part of Asia, HuTong is a dumpling mecca. People book days in advance, or come early and brace for a queue in a bid to experience the delicious home-style cooking which hails from various parts of China.

The best seats in the house are on the ground floor where you can watch the chefs skillfully fold pork, prawn, or vegetable dumplings in a glass-walled kitchen. The must-try are the xiao long bao,or soup dumplings. from east China but the wontons served with hot chilli sauce from Szechuan, pan-fried dumplings from Shanghai, and boiled pork and spinach dumplings from north China are all worthy of your time.

Dish Cult’s top pick: Xiao long bao ($15.80)

Hidden away in the Midcity Centre off Bourke Street, ShanDong MaMa is a no-frills restaurant dishing out some of the city’s most delicious (and unique!) dumplings from China’s Shandong province.

The region’s well-known seafood-accented cuisine is served here by owners Ying Hou and her mother Meiyan Wang (affectionately known as Mama). There always seems to be a queue, but the wait is worth it.

The signature Spanish mackerel dumplings are known throughout the city and are made with a mousse-like mix of mackerel, ginger, coriander and chives. The squid ink dumplings are also not what you’d usually find at other dumpling houses and combine minced chicken with squid, coriander, and salmon roe. Other unique specialties include a zucchini dumpling and the Australian-inspired lamb dumplings.

Dish Cult’s top pick: Spanish mackerel dumplings

Yolungfu, another contender for the title of best dumplings in Melbourne, also sits on Bourke Street.

This 130-seater space run by a husband-and-wife power duo features traditional homestyle recipes passed down by their families since 1904. The secret to their success is found in the 16-fold pleat xiao long bao which creates a tiny hole allowing steam to cook the meat gently, without creating too much water.

Split over two levels, the restaurant is decked out with timber, birdcage light fixtures, and cushy lime-green banquettes. The menu features classic pork dumplings and crabmeat dumplings, but it’s hard to go past the signature and extremely fragrant black truffle and pork soup dumplings.

Dish Cult’s top pick: Steamed xiao long bao – black truffle and pork ($17)

Mr Huang Jin is a modern Taiwanese restaurant that serves up piping hot xiao long bao with a spicy twist. The small space seats around 40 and features a fit-out with pale timbers that evoke the bamboo steamers used to serve the delectable dumplings.

While the menu covers a wide range of Taiwanese favourites, the star here is undoubtedly the handmade pork xiao long bao filled with eight-hour-boiled soup.

For the adventurous, try the explode-in-your-mouth flavours that come with the xiao long bao with chilli pork or spicy Malaysian laksa. Another specialty is the pan-fried dumplings topped with spring onions and filled with a selection of pork, beef, lemongrass chicken, calamari or prawns.

Dish Cult’s top pick: Steamed chilli pork xiao long bao ($11)

As any keen food lover would know, Din Tai Fung is a world-renowned xiao long bao chain that’s been awarded a Michelin star five times and continues serving up intricate dumplings in cities across the globe. While the menu is full of Taiwanese delicacies, its claim to fame is the masterfully rolled and pleated 18-fold soup dumplings.

You can’t fail to notice the army of smartly dressed chefs in the glass fronted kitchen rolling out batches of dumplings by hand with speed and precision.

The signature pork dumpling (dipped into vinegar soy sauce and topped with ginger) is delicate, warming and utterly delicious. The other dumplings also deserve the love though and they are filled with everything from truffles and shrimp, to seafood, chicken and vegetables.

Dish Cult’s top pick: Pork dumpling (xiao long bao)

Shanghai Street has a menu full of tasty, hearty dumplings and with locations in Chinatown, Little Bourke and Elizabeth Street, they have the city well and truly covered for dumpling cravings, no matter where they hit.

There’s much to try here, with lots of variations on handmade xiao long bao as well as expertly created boiled dumplings, but we are so in love with the signature pork mini buns we made them one of our Must-try dishes.

Going beyond dumplings, there are some killer wonton soups (still dumpling related – we know!) as well as dishes like marinated duck in thick sweet soy sauce and the signature spring onion pancake.

Dish Cult’s top pick: Pan fried mini pork buns ($14.80)